curb

noun

\ ˈkərb

Definition of curb

(Entry 1 of 2)

1 : a bit that exerts severe pressure on a horse's jaws also : the chain or strap attached to it — see bit illustration

2 : an enclosing frame, border, or edging

3 : check, restraint a price curb government policies that are designed to put a curb on spending

4 : a raised edge or margin to strengthen or confine

5 : an edging (as of concrete) built along a street to form part of a gutter They sat on the curb eating their ice cream.

6 [ from the fact that it originally transacted its business on the street ] : a market for trading in securities not listed on a stock exchange

curb

verb

curbed; curbing; curbs

Definition of curb (Entry 2 of 2)

transitive verb

1 : to furnish with a curb

2 : to check or control with or as if with a curb trying to curb her curiosity

3 : to lead (a dog) to a suitable place (such as a gutter) for defecation

Synonyms & Antonyms Choose the Right Synonym More Example Sentences Learn More about curb

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Choose the Right Synonym for curb

Verb

restrain, check, curb, bridle mean to hold back from or control in doing something. restrain suggests holding back by force or persuasion from acting or from going to extremes. restrained themselves from laughing check implies restraining or impeding a progress, activity, or impetus. trying to check government spending curb suggests an abrupt or drastic checking. learn to curb your appetite bridle implies keeping under control by subduing or holding in. bridle an impulse to throw the book down

Examples of curb in a Sentence

Noun

We sat on the curb eating our ice cream. these international regulations act as a curb on the plundering of a nation's archaeological treasures

Verb

The legislation is intended to curb price and wage increases. pills designed to curb your appetite

Recent Examples on the Web: Noun

Airports were asked for the longest possible walk from the curb of the terminal to the farthest gate, including use of escalators, moving walkways and trains or trams. — WSJ, "Airport Rankings Table and Methodology," 14 Nov. 2018 The right front of the bus struck him 12 to 16 feet from the curb, the report said. — Mike Lindblom, The Seattle Times, "Metro says fatal Westlake Avenue bus-pedestrian crash was preventable, agrees to $7.7M settlement," 26 Oct. 2018 From the edge of the bus lane to the opposite curb, firefighters filled Fifth Avenue. — Benjamin Mueller, New York Times, "Funeral Is Held for Firefighter Killed by Ground Zero Toxins," 29 June 2018 No one has to know the coffee table under said coasters was upcycled from the curb. — Beca Grimm, GQ, "15 Things You Must Own Before You Invite a Woman Over," 29 Mar. 2018 The concrete walk has been painted purple, and giant yellow block letters spelling V-I-K-I-N-G-S run from the curb to the porch. — George Dohrmann, SI.com, "Inside the Viking World Order, the Exclusive Club of Minnesota Vikings Superfans," 17 Jan. 2018 Ellis claimed in her lawsuit that she was ordered out of a car in the 3100 block of N. 11th St. on Sept. 21, 2011, because it was parked more than a foot from the curb. — Mary Spicuzza, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "Milwaukee aldermen approve $150,000 settlement in federal case over illegal strip search," 17 Jan. 2018 Bond update: Boise High - Roof deck of Music & Performing Arts Annex complete & mechanical curbs have been placed. — Michael Katz, idahostatesman, "You gave Boise schools $172.5 million for upgrades. Here's how the money is being spent.," 14 June 2018 Construction will include grading, erosion control, removal and replacement of curb and gutter, backfilling, and sediment removal. — Karen Huppertz, ajc, "Lawrenceville approves emergency replacement of Thornbush Tr. culvert," 11 June 2018

Recent Examples on the Web: Verb

Malpass has called for curbing the World Bank’s financial reach and has criticized its lending to China, one of the bank’s leading recipients of aid. — Darlene Superville, The Seattle Times, "Trump to tap David Malpass, critic of World Bank, to lead it," 6 Feb. 2019 These tools range from facial-recognition software ostensibly aimed at curbing jaywalking to nearly omnipresent surveillance cameras monitoring the county's Uighur minority. — David Grossman, Popular Mechanics, "Google Employees Sign Protest Letter Against Secretive Chinese Search Engine," 27 Nov. 2018 Farm use of fertilizers and manure from livestock and poultry produce about 88% of the United Kingdom’s ammonia emissions, so proposed plans would curb fertilizer use and require covering manure heaps to trap ammonia gas. — Matt Warren, Science | AAAS, "United Kingdom unveils ambitious air pollution plan," 29 May 2018 And in August, Beijing officially cemented the ban just days after President Xi Jinping gave a speech about myopia and authorities recommended curbing video games as one of the solutions. — Shannon Liao, The Verge, "China lifts video game ban but not for its biggest player," 29 Dec. 2018 But regulators have been struggling with how to strike a balance between curbing the uptake of e-cigarettes in minors while also helping smokers quit. — Julia Belluz, Vox, "Vaping gone viral: the astonishing surge in teens’ e-cigarette use," 18 Dec. 2018 The iPhone maker curbed its share buybacks considerably in the final three months of 2018. — Dan Gallagher, WSJ, "Apple Doesn’t Buy Low," 2 Feb. 2019 And, sure, while a bottle of Chanel No. 5 may look like the perfect prop for any chic bathroom vanity, the daily stream of steam from the shower may be curbing its freshness (and, in turn, yours). — Kari Molvar, Vogue, "5 Mistakes Most Women Make When Wearing Perfume—And How to Fix Them," 10 Dec. 2018 The built-in pain relief also gets patients on their feet faster, jumpstarting recoveries, and curbing the risk of blood clots (more on that ahead). — Jolene Edgar, Allure, "Life in Plastic: A Complete Guide to the "Mommy Makeover"," 16 July 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'curb.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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Statistics for curb

Last Updated

8 Mar 2019

Look-up Popularity

Time Traveler for curb

The first known use of curb was in the 15th century

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More Definitions for curb

curb

noun

English Language Learners Definition of curb

(Entry 1 of 2)

: a short border along the edge of a street that is usually made of stone or concrete

: something that controls or limits something else

curb

verb

English Language Learners Definition of curb (Entry 2 of 2)

: to control or limit (something)

See the full definition for curb in the English Language Learners Dictionary

curb

noun

\ ˈkərb

Kids Definition of curb

(Entry 1 of 2)

1 : an enclosing border (as of stone or concrete) often along the edge of a street

2 : check entry 1 sense 2 a curb on rising prices

curb

verb

curbed; curbing

Kids Definition of curb (Entry 2 of 2)

: to control or limit curb spending This will curb your appetite.

curb

noun

\ ˈkərb

Medical Definition of curb

: a swelling on the back of the hind leg of a horse just behind the lowest part of the hock joint that is due to strain or rupture of the ligament and generally causes lameness